Garment former



C. H. BOYULS GARMENT FORMER Fild March 21, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR C. H. BOYULS GARMENT FORMER Filed March 21. 2.921 2 Sheeisr-Sheet 2' INVENTOR TTORNEY Patented July 15, 1924?.

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CECIL H. BOYULS, 0F LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

GARMENT FORMER.

Application filed March 21, 1921. Serial No. 454,080.

To all whom it may oonoem:

Be it known that I, CECIL I-I. BoY'ULs, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Louisville, in the county of J efferson and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garment Formers, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to garment formers and has special reference to a combined forming and steaming machine for trousers and other like bifurcated garments.

One important object of the invention is to improve and simplify the general construction of devices of this character.

A second important object of the invention is to provide improved means for form ing and shaping the legs of trousers, overalls and all like garments by ironing from the inside without turning the garments inside out. A third important object of the invention is to provide improved means for ironing and forming garments of Wool and the like, the means acting on the inside of the garment whereby the production of shine or gloss is obviated and the garments are properly creased.

A fourth important object of the invention is to provide a machine of this class for bifurcated garments, the machine having an improved'expansible and adjustable envelope surrounding and heated from an interior heating element. x

A fifth important object of the invention is the provision of improved means for operating on both legs of a garment at the same time.

A sixth important object of the invention is the provision of improved means, in a machine of this character, for dampening or steaming the garment to be pressed.

A seventh important object of the invention is to provide improved means for adjusting the size of the stretching or pressing device in such machines.

Am eighth important object of the invention is to provide improved operating means for such machines...

A ninth important object of the invention is the provision of improved heating means for such machines.

- With the above and other objects in view, as will be hereinafter apparent, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations or parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the ma- 7 chine.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail end View of the forms removed from the rest of the ma chine.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail side view of the adjusting device and adjacent parts of a form.

Figure 5 is a View from above upper front part of the machine.

Figure 6 is a section on the line B-B of showing the Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a section in enlarged scale on the line AA of Figure 2.

In the embodiment of the invention herein illustrated the machine is shown as having a base 10 for supporting the device on a floor. Extending upwardly from this base is a pair of forwardly inclined legs 11 carrying at their upper ends a supporting plate 12, the base, legs and plate being preferably formed integrally.

Secured to this plate by bolts 13 are form base plates 14. Extending rearwardly and upwardly from each of the plates 14 is a hollow heater 15 which is frusto-pyramidal in form and has its major base preferably integral with the respective plate 14 and is arranged perpendicularly thereto. In cross section each of these heaters forms a later ally flattened hexagon with its longest diagonal perpendicular. Thus these'two heaters are parallel and can freely pass within the legs of a pair of trousers. The upper angle of each heater is flattened as at 16 and extending around each heater from its flattened angle is a series of closely arranged parallel rooves 17.

Over t e sides of each heater adjacent its flattened angle is fitted an upper fixed en velope 18 of inverted V-shape in cross section so that a triangular space 19 is left between the envelope 18 and the flattened angle 16 the purpose of which will be presently described. Bolted to the rear end of each heater is an angle bracket 20 having a pair of spaced and rearwardly projectng arms 21 through which asses a screw 22 having a pivot eye 23 atits ower end. On each screw between the arms 21 is mounted a knurled nut 23 so that by rotating these nuts the pivot eyes 23 are moved up and down at will. Secured to the rear end of each fixed envelope 18 is a hood or housing 24 which extends over the respective screw and nut and serves to prevent garments drawn on the machine from contacting therewith.

Surrounding the remaining four sides of each heater 15 is an adjustable envelope 25.

having at its rear end a pair of arms 26 connected to the respective eye 23 by a pivot bolt 27 so that each movable envelope has its rear end pivotally and adjustably connected to the respective heater. The front ends of these adjustable envelopes 25 are supported on a bracket 28 having pairs of upwardly extending arms 29, each pair being secured to the front end of a respective envelope 25. This bracket also has a central pair of downwardly extending pivot lugs 30. Pivotally connected to these lugs is a link 31 which has its lower end connected pivotally to the rear end of a lever 32 pivoted intermediate its ends to a bracket 33 carried on the legs 11. Supported in brackets 34 is a rock shaft 35 on which is fixed a rock arm 36 connected to the front end of the lever 32 by a link 37. This rock arm is normally held downward by a tension spring 38 so that the envelopes 25 are normally closed at their front ends on the heaters. Fixed on the shaft 35 is a treadle 39 carrying a latch 40 working over a toothed segment 41 and operable for release by a foot lever 42. Pressing down on the treadle draws the front ends of the envelopes 25 downward and the latch 40 holds them in this downward or expanded position until released by stepping on the lever 42.

At 43 is a water pipe which is preferably connected to a source of hot water. This pipe is provided with a valve 44 above which it branches laterally as at 45, the branches extending rearwardly in the spaces 19 and being provided in these portions with a multiplicity of fine perforations so that the water can escape and trickle down the grooves or channels 17, being there converted to steam by the heaters. This steam es capes freely through the perforations 46 with which the envelopes are provided so that garments on the forms or envelopes are dampened by such steam.

At 47 and 48 are respective inlet and outlet pipes which are branched to communicate with the respective heaters. These pipes may be used for steam and when so used are provided with a control valve 49.

These pipes may be also used as conduits for electric wires connected to heating resistances located within the heaters which, in this case, are filled with oil or the like. By the use of a fluid filling within the heater, there is obtained a more even distribution of heat and more even temperature. All of the walls of the heater can be kept at substantially the same temperature to a much greater extent than if the interior of the heater is merely filled with air.

In operation the heaters are first heated to the desired temperature. The legs of the garment are then adjusted on the forms, the latter being adjusted properly at their rear ends by the knurled nuts. The operator then pushes the treadle downward until the garment is fully distended. The valve 44 is next opened to permit sufficient steam to form and dampen the garment. This valve having been closed the garment is left on the envelopes a short time after which the treadle is released and the trousers removed. This leaves the legs properly creased and smooth.

It is obvious that thermostatic means may be provided for regulating the temperature of the heaters and consequently of the envelopes or forms.

There has thus been rovided a simple and efiicient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing from the material principles thereof. It is not, there fore, desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described but it is wished to include all such as come within the scope claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

1. In a garment former machine, a heater of frusto-pyramidal form, the cross section of said heater being laterally flattened with oppositely disposed acute angled edges, a fixed envelope element covering one of said edges and the sides of the heater adjacent thereto, a movable envelope element surrounding the remainder of the heater sides and edge, and means to move the movable element away from and toward the fixed "element.

2. In a garment former machine, a heater of frustopyramidal form, the cross section of said heater being laterally flattened with oppositely disposed acute angled edges, a fixed envelope element covering one of said edges and the sides of the heater adjacent thereto, a movable envelope element surrounding the remainder of the heater sides and edge, means to adjust one end of the second element toward and from the first element, and independent means to adjust the remaining end of the second element with respect to the first element.

3. In a garment former machine, a pair of heaters, expansible forms each surrounding a respective. heater said forms being each provided with acute angled creasing portions, and means to expand the forms simultaneously, said means being arranged to permit expansion of'the forms to any desired degree of pressure at the will of the operator. 7

I. In a garment former machine, a pair of heaters, expansible forms each surrounding a respective heater, said forms being .each provided with oppositely dispose acute angled creasing portions, independent expanding means for one end of each form, and means to expand the remaining ends of the forms simultaneously, said means being arrangedto permit expansion of the forms to any desired degree of pressure at the will of the operator.

5. In a garment former machine, a heater having grooves extending therearound, an expansible perforated form surrounding said heater, means to expand the form and a perforated water supply pipe running along the upper part of the heater beneath the envelope.

6. In a garment former machine, a heater, a fixed envelope covering one section of the heater, a bracket extending from the forward end of the heater, and havin a pair of vertically spaced arms, a nut etween said arms, said arms and nut, a movable envelope 00vering a second section of the heater and having one end pivoted to said screw, and means to move the remaining end of the movable envelope toward and from the heater.

7. In a garment former, a heater, a movable envelope surrounding part of said heater and having one end provided with a pivot mounting, and means to move the remaining end of the envelope toward and from the heater comprising a latch lever and segment, a linkage connecting said latch lever and envelope, and a spring arranged to urge the envelope towards the heater.

a screw, passing through.

8. In a machine of the class described, a heater having grooves extended therearound in spaced relation, a garment form surrounding said heater, and means to supply moisture to said grooves.

9. In a machine of the class described, a heater havin grooves extended therearound in spaced relation, a garment form surrounding the heater, and means for expanding and collapsing said form.

10. In a garment former, a heater, means surrounding said heater and constituting a form for the garment, said heater conforming in shape to said form, means for expanding said form to the desired shape, and means for dampening the garment.

11. In a garment former, a hollow heater, heating elements Within said heater, an expansible form surroundingsaid heater, and,

fluid conducting means associated with said heater so that fluid may be heated thereby for dampening the garment.

12. A garment former heater having grooves in its outer surface, a perforated garment form surrounding said heater, and manually controlled means for conducting water to the grooves in said heater whereby steam is formed for dampening the garment.

13. A garment former heater having grooves in its outer surface, a perforated garment form surrounding said heater, a water pipe lying close to said heater andhaving perforations adjacent said grooves, whereby steam is formed for dampening a garment on said form.

comprising a comprising a 14. In a garment former, a hollow heater,

a heating element within the heater and spaced from the walls thereof, and oil of high specific heat surrounding the heating element and filling the heater.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CECIL BOYULS. 

